Truck Crashes Into Shriver Job Corps Building, Injuring 13

On Monday morning, July 21, a truck crashed into a building on the Shriver Job Corps campus on Jackson Road in Devens, injuring 13 people. Shriver Job Corps is a residential job training facility for teens and young adults, and hundreds of participants aged 16-24 live on campus.

The cause of the accident has not yet been released, though it has been reported that the incident appears not to have been intentional. 

The truck crashed through a fence and the box unit on the back of the trailer apparently dislodged and crashed into the building. The accident reportedly damaged a gas line, creating a challenging situation for first responders at the scene. Units from Devens, Ayer, Shirley, Lunenburg and Bolton all assisted, along with the District 8 Technical Rescue Team.

Devens Fire Chief Timothy Kelly told 10 Boston News that the incident had been a “very close call” and that they’d gotten lucky. Seven people, including the driver of the truck, were taken to area hospitals. Six others were treated at the scene by on-site Shriver medical personnel. However, the situation could have been much worse–a crash into a gas line can in some situations cause an explosion. 

Building Crashes are Not Uncommon

As we reported back in April, cars and trucks crash into government and commercial buildings about 100 times/day in the United States. Often, these crashes only cause property damage. But, injuries are not uncommon. These crashes occur for a variety of reasons, including: 

• Intentional assaults on the building, for vandalism or attempted burglary
• Driver error, most often involving hitting the wrong pedal
• Mechanical failure

Driver error crashes can also happen for many reasons, but often involve elderly drivers, drivers operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or drivers experiencing medical emergencies.

Who Gets Injured in Building Crash Accidents? 

Often, the driver of the vehicle that crashes into a building is injured, as are passengers in the vehicle. Other people who may be injured include occupants of the building and bystanders–for instance, people standing on the sidewalk in front of the building or exiting a retail location. 

People injured in building crashes are often entitled to compensation, but who is responsible for that compensation will depend on the circumstances of the crash. For example, a driver who was operating under the influence or otherwise negligent and hit a building will generally be at least possibly responsible for damages. But, there may be other responsible parties as well. Some examples may include:

• Another driver whose actions forced the driver who hit the building to swerve or otherwise take evasive action
• The manufacturer of the vehicle or a vehicle part, if mechanical failure played a role in the accident
• The building owner, if parking lot and/or building conditions caused or contributed to the crash

One well-known example involves 7-Eleven stores. A few years ago, it was reported that a vehicle crashed into a 7-Eleven store or hit pedestrians in front of a 7-Eleven store approximately once every day. 

Get Help after a Building Injury Crash

If you’ve been injured when a vehicle crashed into a building, or in any other motor vehicle accident, the best source of advice and information is an experienced local personal injury lawyer. It’s crucial to make sure you have identified all possible responsible parties, and that you have a solid understanding of the extent of your injuries and any other losses you may have suffered before moving forward. 

Attorney Kevin P. Broderick has spent decades fighting for injury victims in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and has the knowledge and experience to investigate your claim, identify possible responsible parties, shield you from shady insurance company tactics, negotiate on your behalf and, if necessary, fight for you in the courtroom. 

If you have any questions about a personal injury matter, call us today at 978-459-3085 or fill out our contact form.